The History of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States: From the Land of the Pharaohs to the United States of America

By E. M. Gabriel

"And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.'"-Mark 16:15

In the middle of the first century, God sent St. Mark the Evangelist to proclaim the Good News and teach the Egyptians about the true God. He became the first pope and patriarch of the See of St. Mark and the founder of the Coptic Orthodox Church. For centuries, the Coptic Church remained mostly within the boundaries of Egypt, and the majority of Copts, including the clergy, were against the idea of immigration. But there were exceptions: Pope Cyril VI, the late Bishop Samuel, and the blessed Fr. Mikhail Ibrahim supported and encouraged immigration. And in the middle of the twentieth century, the Coptic diaspora slowly began. Within the last five decades, St. Mark continued to carry the Good News through his disciples to the United States and around the world. The History of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States tells the story of the earliest immigrants who left their beloved homeland to start a new life and establish the roots of the Coptic Orthodox Church in America. In rich detail, it pays lasting tribute to a remarkable cast of individuals, families, and servants, including:

-The first pioneers who welcomed each new immigrant as they arrived on America's shore

-The early priests who traveled tirelessly throughout the United States and Canada to minister to individuals and families in rented spaces and the domestic church

-The great popes-HH Cyril VI, HH Shenouda III, and HH Tawadros II-who provided loving guidance from Alexandria

Through the efforts of all these servants, St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Philadelphia was established as one of the first Coptic churches in the United States, along with others in New York, New Jersey, and beyond. The History of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States recounts the celebrations, struggles, and growth of these congregations as they maintain the traditions and spirit of the Coptic Orthodox Church into the twenty-first century.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098052843

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The History of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States

From the Land of the Pharaohs to the United States of America

Esmat M. Gabriel

ISBN 978-1-0980-5282-9 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-0980-5283-6 (hardcover)

ISBN 978-1-0980-5284-3 (digital)

Copyright © 2020 by Esmat M. Gabriel

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Scripture quotations from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown. Reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Preface

Chapter 1

The Plight of the Coptic Christians of Egypt

Egypt and the Christian Copts

Copts before the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965

A Journey into the Unknown

The Story of Coming to the United States

How Did It Happen?

Moving Along!

Eye on the Ball

In the American Embassy

Family and Clergy Opposition

Chapter 2

Immigration Concept: Inexplicable Self-Destructiveness

Alexandrian Priests' View of Immigration

A Bright Hope

The Six-Day War

St. Mary Apparition: A Memorable Event and Historic Date

The Return of Relics of the Great St. Mark: A Second Memorable Event and Historic Date

A Historical Departure

Chapter 3

Exploring the Unknown

In the Company of St. Mark

St. Mark's First Mission

Remember the Sabbath Day

At the ACEP Office

Culture Shock

God… God… God!

The Unbelievable Happened!

Looking for a New Friend

Beneficial and Honorable Biographies

Eva al Masri Sidhom

Chapter 4

Discerning Insight

The Synaxarium (Lives of Saints)

New Generations: Carry the Torch

Concealed and Clothed with Humility

Eva's Parents

Preserving National and Religious Identity

The Fate of the First Priest Ordained to Serve in the United States

New Church Council

CAA Response

Chapter 5

The Domestic Church

The Family

The Immigrating Family

Coptic Fasting and American Views

Women's Role

A Woman as a Leader-Servant

Passing the Torch

Women and Community Service

The Coptic Woman: A Towering Figure

In Humility, Women Serve

Gigantic Women! A Word for the New Generations of Copts

Chapter 6

Evaporating Dream

Surfacing Conflict

Ordination of a Second Priest: Fr. Rofael Younan Nakhla

Part-Time vs. Full-Time Priest

Concerns of Societal Issues: Lack of Transparency

An Eyewitness's Input

Chapter 7

St. Mark Emissaries in the United States

Fr. Makary El-Soriany

Fr. Mankarious Awadalla

Fr. Mina Kamel Yanni

St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Opened

Rev. Fr. Hegomen Gabriel Abdelsayed: First Ordained Priest to Serve in the United States

Worth Noting!

Chapter 8

The Harvest Is Truly Plentiful

Commissioned Priest: Fr. Bishoy Kamel

A Church Miraculously Bought

The Oneness of Soul and Spirit

Father Bishoy's Spiritual Mentors

A Noteworthy Doctrine

Chapter 9

Christ Ambassadors and Laborers to His Harvest

Professor Aziz Suryal Atiya

Rev. Fr. Antonious Baky

Hegomen Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty

Hegomen Fr. Mina Kamel Yanni

Hegomen Fr. Youhanna Tadros Guirgis

Pope Cyril VI in the Life of Father Youhanna

Incredible Annual Retreats

The Summit of Success

Chapter 10

History Is Made: Coptic Mass Celebrated in Philadelphia

Philadelphia: Home of American Independence

The Angel of the Church of Philadelphia

The Amish: An Ideal Culture

Cultivating Awareness: Who Are the Copts?

Al-Karma Magazine

Forming a Planning Committee

Forming the Pope Kyrillos Committee

Incorporating St. George Coptic Orthodox Church

Chapter 11

The Law of Supply and Demand

St. George Church

St. George Church's First Priest: The Very Rev. Fr. Mankarious Awadalla

New York's Loss Was Philadelphia's Gain: A Brief Biography of Rev. Fr. Mankarious Awadalla

Father Mankarious's Mentor

The Joyous News

Serving St. George in Philadelphia

Noteworthy Chronicles: Father's Prophecy

Historical Perspectives: The Church First Financial Report

Miraculously Healed

Pope Shenouda III's Congratulatory Message

Chapter 12

One Body with Many Members… Why Divided?

Fr. Angelos Boghdadi: The Church's Second Priest

Protocol for Grievance Procedures

HG Bishop Youhannes: The Late Bishop of Tanta, Egypt

One Body… Undivided

Seeking and Saving Our Souls

Chapter 13

The Bicentennial Celebration: Historical Perspectives

Bicentennial Celebrations (1976)

Egyptomania: The 1976 Treasures of Tutankhamun Tour

Rev. Fr. Angelos H. Boghdadi: A Distinguished Representative

History of El Horria Yacht

1976 Census of Clergy in North America

HH Pope Shenouda III's Plan

Historical and Prominent Spiritual Leaders

Fr. Mikhail Ibrahim: A Heavenly Guest

A Man of Prayers

An Exemplary Priest

Burial in St. Mark Cathedral

Chapter 14

Historical Glimpses of the Leadership of HH Pope Cyril VI

Pope Cyril VI's Surmounting Challenges

Pope Cyril VI and His Spirituality

Pope Cyril VI the Miracle Worker

Pope Cyril VI and His Leadership Style

St. Mena: The Pope's Patron Saint

Chapter 15

Global Evangelization upon the Return of St. Mary to Egypt

Evangelization In and Outside Egypt

The Apparitions of the Holy Virgin St. Mary: St. Mary Returns to Egypt

Eyewitnesses to the Apparitions

Chapter 16

Historical Glimpses of the Leadership of HH Pope Shenouda III

HG Bishop Shenouda

Enthronement of Pope Shenouda III

Pope Shenouda III in Philadelphia

Pope Shenouda III's Ecumenical Visit

Meeting with the Coptic Community

Time for Decision-Making

St. George Congregation Declines the Offer

St. George Church's Holy Myron

Incorporating St. Mena Church in Northeast Philadelphia

Chapter 17

A New Start: St. Mena Coptic Orthodox Church

Fr. Bishoy Demitri

St. Mena Church: A New Beginning

History of Eden Hall Chapel

St. Mena the Miracle Worker

St. George Church's First Property

Fr. Mousa El-Syriani (HG Bishop Athanasius of Beni Mazar)

Chapter 18

One Body, One Spirit, and One Local Church

St. Mena Church Perspective

St. Mena Congregation Perspective

Division

The Other Opinion: People's Grievances

Chapter 19

Further Growth of St. George Church

The Dawn of a New Era

The Very Rev. Fr. Samuel Thabet Samuel

The Heavy Hand of Persecution

Praising and Thanksgiving in Prison

The Tenure of Father Samuel

Members of the Board

Board Meetings

Cutting Expenses

A Blessed Family

A Papal Visit

Ecumenical Relations

Worth Noting

Chapter 20

St. George Parish: A Shining Renewal

Bidding Farewell to the Shepherd

Value of Time

Welcoming a New Shepherd

The Very Rev. Fr. Roufail Zaki Youssef

A Heavenly Gift

Chapter 21

The Pope of Alexandria's Third Visit to the United States

The Pope Defending Faith and Human Rights

Voice of the Immigrant

Chapter 22

St. George Parish: A Monument of Divine Grace

El-Keraza Annual Spiritual Contest

Family First

Family Education

The Church's Role in Sexual Education

Christian-Based Church Curriculum

St. George's Well-Structured Program

Understanding Sexuality

Discipleship

Chapter 23

The Call

Parting the Sea of St. George

History Repeats Itself

The Sun Shines After the Storm

The Rev. Fr. Mina Shaheid

A Gifted Priest

Communicating Knowledge and Skills

Continued Education

Chapter 24

St. George Parish: Historical Perspective

I. His Grace Bishop Karas

Noteworthy: Article I

His Grace the Bishop

The Office of the Bishop

Shielding Human Dignity

The Bishop's Conceptual Theology

Eschatology: A Paramount Concern

Praxis of Eschatology

II. St. George Evangelical Mission

A Monastic Experience

A Teenager's Plight

III. Establishing St. George Mission Church in South Philadelphia

Chapter 25

Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria

The Lord Heard the Cry

A Visionary Pope

The Pope's Leadership Style Revealed

The Pope's Servant-Leadership Style

Politicization of the Church

Pope Tawadros II's Views on Politics

The Pope: A Motivator and a Think Tank Vision

The 118th Pope: A Futurist Innovator

The Pope: An Educational Perfectionist

The Coptic Institute for Church Management and Advanced Learning

Chapter 26

HH Pope Tawadros II's Call: Looking to the Future

HH Pope Tawadros II's Inspired Call!

A Retrospective Map

Points of Light Mission to Inspire, Mobilize, and Take Action

The Pope's Statement of Priorities

The Church's Affirming Parental Role

Proper Etiquette in the House of the Lord

The Transcendent and the Imminent

The Imminent Role

Proposed Global Executive Educational Entity (GEEE)

Proposed Models within a Cognitive System of Human Cognition

UNICEF Report on Education

Be Aware: The Danger of Government Schools

Another Alternative: Homeschooling

Why Homeschooling?

Conclusion

Notable Quotables

Notable Quotable That Says It All

Appendix I

Pope Kyrillos VI Publications Certificate of Incorporation and Proof of Publication Notices

Appendix II

St. George Coptic Orthodox Church Certificate of Incorporation and Proof of Publication Notices

Appendix III

The Founders and the First Board of Deacons of St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Philadelphia A Signed Letter with All the Names of the First Board Members Submitted to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of State on May 20, 1973

Appendix IV

Pope Shenouda III's Guardianship Letter Regarding Fr. Angelos H. Boghdadi's Two Daughters in the USA

Notes

About the Author

To our children and grandchildren:

the baptized Generation X, millennials, and Generation Z

of St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church of America.

On the occasion of celebrating the church's golden jubilee

in the United States, October 6, 2018.

Acknowledgments

Iwould be hard pressed to think of an author who needed more help and received it in greater measure of support than I did in the writing of this book. First and foremost, I would like to thank my wife and both of my daughters, who encouraged me to write this history for posterity's sake and who prayed for this purpose. I am especially grateful to my wife for her devotion to this project and her invaluable editing. Her excellent suggestions, care, and sensitivity enabled me to really focus not only the writing of this book but my other publications as well.

I owe special thanks to HH Pope Tawadros II, HG Bishop David, and Hegomen Fr. Mina Yanni, whose sacrificial love and tireless efforts both assisted and honored the Coptic Christian pioneers who made history when they arrived in the United States of America. I am grateful to Hegomen Fr. Roufail Youssef for his prayers and unwavering dedication, as well as many other members of the clergy for their support—I would love to name them all but fear to miss any. Last but not least, thanks to all those who prefer to remain anonymous—without their prayers, this task would not have seen the light of day. Finally, my heartfelt thanks to St. Mary and St. Joseph, whose presence, protection, and intercession became ever more real for me as I thought about and wrote this book.

Acknowledgment also is due here to the support of (the late) His Grace Bishop Samuel, bishop of public, ecumenical, and social services, who was instrumental in sending Fr. Rofael Younan Nakhla of Montreal, Canada, to the United States. Father Rofael celebrated the first Holy Liturgy at Riverside Church at 475 Riverside Drive and West 120th Street, New York City. The Mass started at 10:00 a.m., Sunday, June 30, 1968. He celebrated the Holy Liturgy for the second time at the General Theological Seminary at 175 Ninth Avenue, Chelsea, New York City, on Sunday, November 10, 1968, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

These beginnings were the seeds that paved the way to establishing St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Jersey City, New Jersey. The church was incorporated March 6, 1970, in the state of New Jersey. Following Father Rofael service in New York he served the first mass in Philadelphia.

A member of the Coptic American Association (CAA) was relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in September 1969. While in New York, he would join Father Rofael for home visitations of Copts who were newly arrived in New York. Father Rofael, upon finding out about the member's intended move to another state, was very supportive and promised to come and visit. He gladly did, and during that visit he met with a few families who recently immigrated and lived in the Philadelphia area. He then encouraged them to join other members in New York for the monthly Holy Liturgy he had been conducting there. Some of us attended the service every time Father Rofael celebrated the Holy Liturgy in New York and continued to do so for almost a year. Many, however, were not able to make the trip to New York but yearned that he would come and celebrate mass with them in Philadelphia.

Father Rofael then planned a second visit to Philadelphia and celebrated the Holy Liturgy at the Central Presbyterian Church on Broad Street near city hall in Philadelphia in October of 1969. The numbers of Coptic families did not exceed more than six families, of whom three families were of another denomination. We were joined by many members from the New York area, and it was a joyous day to remember. This beginning was the seed that paved the way to establishing St. George Coptic Orthodox Church in Philadelphia. The following day, the Sunday Philadelphia Inquirer, a well-circulated newspaper in the state of Pennsylvania, announced that History Is Made: Coptic Mass Celebrated in Philadelphia.

The rest is history. However, this history has been recorded in an objective reality and ontological manner, not a subjective one. Published records of this history are here to be offered on behalf of the first immigrants to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II. It consists of:

The first Coptic Church constitution and bylaws ever was drawn according to federal law, US Code Section 501(c) for nonprofit organizations. Published by His Holiness Pope Kyrillos VI, December 3, 1969. (A copy of the bylaws is included.)

Part of this history has been preserved in the US Library of Congress under the title of The Exemplary Leadership of Pope Kyrillos VI & Pope Shenouda III. (A copy of the book is included.)

The third phase of this history was a response to a kind request by His Grace Bishop David. A textbook was written for the massive influx of Copt immigrants to know how to raise their children and preserve family life in a secular humanistic culture and in the face of permissive society. The title of this textbook is The Exemplarily Upbringing of the Child & Transformational Stages toward Perfect Maturity. (A copy of the book is included.)

The fourth is A Well-Thought-Out Proposal in response to Your Holiness's inspired call during your visit to Canada in 2014 encouraging efforts to explore and plan the church's catechism activity in the next fifty years. This proposal was built on a summary of input and statement of need from thousands of participating Coptic youth in the West through digital communication. Project activities and outcomes, evaluation, and dissemination were prompted and shared with His Grace Bishop Suriel while he resided in the Diocese of New Jersey, then later was handed to His Grace Bishop David, the Patriarchal Exarch at the Archdiocese of North America in Cedar Grove, New Jersey, at that time. (The proposal is included.)

This history will not be complete without including the writings of the Very Reverend Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty in a book titled The Church in the Land of Diaspora, dated June 1972, and his popular message, The New Pope and the Power of the Communal Repentance, dated November 2012. (A copy of the original title page of the book and copies of the message, in both Arabic and English, are included.)

Finally, Your Holiness will be pleased to know that the rich history, treasures, traditions, and theology of our Coptic Orthodox Church are also recorded and preserved in almost every university's religious department in the nation under the scholarly magazine Coptic Church Review, established and edited by the late Dr. Rodolph Yanney and a board of scholarly writers and theologians. (A special copy of Coptic Church Review on the subject of the Eucharist sacrament in the Coptic Orthodox Church is included.)

Last and not least, we are greatly thankful and eternally grateful to His Grace Bishop David, the Very Reverend Hegomen Mina Yanni, and all those who planned and toiled behind the scene. Through their sacrificial love, they orchestrated this magnificent celebration and made it possible to honor the first immigrants, to entice and enlighten Coptic generations to follow the path of their contribution in establishing the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States of America more than fifty years ago.

Preface

It all started with a presentation delivered before His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.

Soon after I delivered my speech on October 6, 2018, in the presence of His Holiness the pope, their graces, the bishops, and other church clergy and dignitaries, I was approached by several dignified guests and dear friends. They expressed a deep desire to have me write the history of the Coptic Church in the United States as it was witnessed by those who took part in its founding. In particular, Mr. Nassif Banout, a leading servant and member of St. George Church in Brooklyn, New York, and Dr. Farid F. Shafik, a devout thinker, the celebration's moderator, and a spiritual son of the late Very Rev. Fr. Gabriel Abdelsayed, both expressed their zeal for preserving the history of the Coptic Orthodox Church in America.

Mr. Banout is a very close friend. Our relationship goes back to our youth and dedicated service at St. Mark Church in Shoubra and Archangel Michael Church in Toson, Cairo, Egypt. We also served at St. John the Son of Thunder's weekly college meetings. There, we met an outstanding group of pious graduate and undergraduate students from elite universities throughout Cairo. Many of them became successful professionals in a variety of scientific and medical fields, and a majority of them later immigrated to the United States. These wonderful faithful servants were the bedrock of the establishment of many Coptic Orthodox churches in America.

My friends and colleagues were not the only ones who wanted me to write this history. Their children and even my own family demanded that it be recorded in English by the ones who witnessed it. Even if some segments of this history were already written in Arabic, many felt a complete book in English would be worthwhile to add to the picture and enhance its fullness.

I was approached for this important task because I was one of the early settlers who witnessed and experienced the inception of the Coptic Church in the United States. I was a member of the first and only Coptic association in the US, the Coptic American Association (CAA). In addition, I had moved early on to the state of Pennsylvania where, along with a few others, I helped establish the first Coptic Orthodox church in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, in 1969. My long-time association with our church in America made me the ideal candidate to record these historical events for the benefit of future generations of Christian Copts living or born beyond the borders of Egypt.

We believe it is essential to keep track of this history. Christian Copts treasure their ethnic origin as the direct descendent of the pharaohs. Our ancestors are the original inhabitants of the great land of Egypt, one of the cradles of civilization. But more importantly, Coptic Christians are proud to be the direct beneficiaries of their faith, adhering to their spiritual path by walking in the footsteps of St. Mark the Evangelist. He is the author of the Gospel of St. Mark and the founder of the Church of Alexandria, one of the most important sees of early Christianity.

During the early years of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United States, a visiting dignitary from another denomination expressed his surprise and admiration when he noticed that one of our churches in New Jersey was full of young worshippers. During the service, the dignitary turned to His Grace Bishop David and asked, What do you do to keep your youth in the church? He related that church leaders in America were worried about the dwindling numbers of Christian youth, and he was curious about these young Copts who appeared to be enjoying their spiritual experience. He entertained the idea that, rather than abandoning Christianity, some young people were joining more traditional liturgical denominations.

It is true. Young Coptic Christians are involved in every aspect of church life. The worship, doctrine, and tradition are an integral part of the life of the community of believers as members of the body of Christ. Besides the fact that the Coptic Church is part of their ethnicity, our children are spiritually elevated by the liturgical beauty they encounter every time they are in the church.

Such is not the case in other parts of America, where young people are known to be leaving churches in droves. According to a Public Religion Research Institute poll, 55 percent of self-declared unaffiliated youth identified with a religious tradition when they were younger.¹ It is believed that some young people are joining more orthodox churches for their deep, rich tradition of spirituality and faith. Indeed, many members of the millennial generation are exploring new horizons and seeking the meaning of faith. Many of them feel an emptiness or a lack of purpose, and nontraditional churches apparently cannot fill that spiritual void. It is a search for meaning that goes to the heart of finding a destiny and purpose for life beyond worldly pleasures.

* * * * *

St. Pope Cyril VI, the 116th pope of Alexandria and patriarch of the See of St. Mark (May 1959–March 9, 1971), in his first papal message to the churches of America, stated:

How we need to live the spiritual life at a time when materialism, atheism, and digressive ideas are prevailing the world. How do people need to see Christ in our life and sense this sweet smell in us? The Church has a crucial duty at this stage that the world has reached. The Church has to strengthen faith in all hearts, spread virtue, and give peace and tranquility to all tired souls. By this, it will provide stability and increase happiness.

The Message of the Lord Jesus Christ is to give a better life to people. I have come that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. It is the immaculate, pure, and quiet life that makes the good productive citizen and the active member of the Church, who knows how to be always honest to God, his nation, and to human society, dealing with all in a brotherly love and nobility of the spirit.

The pope's first papal message can be seen as a prophecy! He says that the church has a crucial duty to proclaim the message of the Lord Jesus Christ to give people a better life. One wonders, was he thinking only of people within the See of St. Mark or people everywhere as well? Little did we know that his prophetic words would take a firm hold across the Atlantic during His Holiness's reign, recalling the words of ninth-century abbot Bishop Sawyers of Nstroh about St. Mark the Evangelist: That great saint who had not only shined over the land of Egypt but also shone over the whole world.² Would the newcomers to the United States play a role in fulfilling the prophecy of Pope Cyril VI? Would they take part in reflecting that shining light that illuminates the whole world as Bishop Sawyers spoke of St. Mark?

After five decades, we have witnessed what took place, and therefore we can attest to the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit in this land. The establishment and expansion of the Coptic Church in America and all over the world has been evident. We trust it has been part of the divine plan and that the Holy Spirit has led the first pilgrims to pursue that very plan.

The past is prelude; the present and future are subject to the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. We know that the Holy Spirit is active in the world. He does many things in the lives of believers (John 14:26). He enlightens, guides, strengthens, and consoles them. The Holy Spirit comforted the first immigrants to the United States and continues to fill them with fellowship and joy in a sometimes hostile world.

* * * * *

The scripture quotations contained in this book are from the New King James Version, copyright © ١٩٨٢ by Thomas Nelson, Inc., and are used by permission. Any mistakes and all opinions in this book are entirely my own.

The author and publisher are grateful to the foregoing and those others whose materials, whether in the public domain or protected by copyright, are cited throughout this volume. Other than minor conventional edits for clarity, the excerpts used in this work have been transcribed verbatim. If any copyrighted materials have been inadvertently used without proper credit, please notify the author or publisher in writing so future printings of this work may be corrected.

Esmat M. Gabriel

Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania

May 1, 2019

Blessed Feast of St. George

Chapter 1

The Plight of the Coptic Christians of Egypt

The gallant person will always consider the world with a smile of toleration,

and his own doings with a smile of honest amusement, and Heaven with a

smile which is not distrustful being thoroughly persuaded that God is kinder

than the genteel would regard as rational.

—James Branch Cabell

Egypt and the Christian Copts

Egypt is one of the cradles of civilization, and Egyptians love their country. It is a well-known fact that they are